Sensory Deprivation Therapy: The Float Tank  

Float Tanks or pods as some may refer to it as which are used as chambers for limiting external stimuli are being seen as the ‘new age’ auxiliary medical treatment which have thus far presented amazing results to say the least.

R.E.S.T as the therapy is referred to according to those who have experienced it is an unusual experience and health professionals are standing by the fact that it is a phenomenon that cannot be ignored. As new as it may sound, floatation therapy is actually an ancient technique of relaxation that was improvised in the 60 by a Dr. John C Lily which was written off as nothing more than geek science junk at its genesis.

However, accumulated empirical evidence and primary data based on the feedback of thousands of people who actively underwent the therapy proved that there was something extraordinary about the therapy that still needs to be understood.

The Concept and Mechanics behind Floatation Therapy

The mechanics and concept of the floatation tank developed by Dr. John C. Lily more than half a century ago was based on the response of our brain towards lack of stimuli, given the fact that the brain is constantly preoccupied by external stimuli which among others include sound, sight, temperature and even smell.

Given the fact that Dr John C Lily was a neuroscientist it was only natural for him to be deeply intrigued with the correlation between the brain and the body. His question revolved around his curiosity on what would happen when external stimuli which constantly keep our brain preoccupied is deprived of these elements of what Dr. John C Lilly termed as ‘noise’.

It was initially observed that those who went through the therapy were able to not only sleep better, but they were also generally observed to be in better moods. This prolonged observation eventually led to in depth studies that concluded that the brief break from stimuli allowed the brain to recalibrate the entire biological balance of the body. Among the more prominent aspect of the therapy was also the partial elimination of gravity which is made possible through the use of the Epsom Salt solution used in the therapy that allowed the subjects to stay afloat.

Gravity naturally takes a significant toll on our entire biological construct and the elimination of it to the extent that this therapy does gives the body the much-needed break from this constant force without even trying.

Benefits

The benefits of a float tank are extensive and serve to support a wide range of ailments that among others include chronic headaches, insomnia, gout, and arthritis. It seems that the therapy has different effects on different people for instance the therapy may be effective towards treating back problems for some people whilst for others the treatment works wonders for insomniacs.

Medical professionals are still uncovering a lot of possibilities that could be gained through the treatment which thus far have not shown any negative side effects whatsoever.